With wintry weather settling in, board urging people to stay informed about potential disruptions to student transportation
NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE MUSKOKA CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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With winter weather upon us, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) reminds families about bus cancellation procedures.
For SMCDSB schools in Simcoe County, student transportation is provided by the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC). Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) collaborates with the SCSTC to provide transportation for schools in Muskoka, and for St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School in Parry Sound, busing is co-ordinated through the Nipissing Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS).
The decision to cancel school buses on inclement weather days is made by the SCSTC, TLDSB and the NPSSTS, based on local road and weather conditions. The decision to cancel buses is typically made between 6 and 6:30 a.m. and information is posted on simcoecountyschoolbus.ca or the NPSSTS website.
Families are encouraged to check the website in the morning or subscribe to receive direct email notifications about delays of more than 15 minutes for their child’s school bus route. Even when buses are cancelled, schools are open for student learning.
In Simcoe County and Muskoka weather zones are used to allow for partial bus cancellations. This means that just because buses are cancelled in one zone, there still may be buses running in other areas. It is important for families to know which weather zone they are in and to check the website prior to departing in the morning.
There are four zones in Simcoe County and two for Muskoka:
North — Elmvale, Midland, Penetanguishene and Orillia
West — Collingwood, Stayner and Wasaga Beach
Central — Barrie, Innisfil and Angus
South — Alliston, Beeton, Bradford, Cookstown and Tottenham
Muskoka Zone 1 — Bracebridge and Gravenhurst
Muskoka Zone 2 — Huntsville (also includes St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School in Bracebridge)
Please note that Parry Sound does not use a zoned system.
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